Sonata Unveils Safer, Faster Laptop Batteries

Boston Power and HP have announced new, safer lithium-ion batteries with more power and a shorter charge time.

PALM SPRINGS  While there's still no accepted replacement for the lithium-ion batteries used in notebook PCs, Boston Power has announced that it has a much-improved Li-I technology, called Sonata, which adds power, extends battery life, reduces charging time, and introduces a host of new safety measures.

Sonata, which was announced here at the DEMO 07 conference, is designed to match the form factor of existing laptop batteries, meaning adopting companies do not have to retool laptop manufacturing.

The cells can deliver power that can last for the life of the laptop, which Boston Power estimates at about three years. For that time, Boston power's batteries will deliver essentially as much power as they did when they were new. Better yet, Sonata batteries can, according to Boston Power, charge to roughly 80 percent of capacity in just 30 minutes.

Laptop battery technology took a beating last year. First Dell's laptop batteries caught fire and the company launched a major recall. Then other manufacturers followed suit and, finally, the company that manufactured the lithium-ion batteries, Sony, announced its own big recall. Many people said it was time for a change in battery technology.

While traditional laptop Li-I batteries are made with eight or more AA-battery-resembling cylinders, Boston Technology's batteries have a "prismatic shape" which, company execs explained, adds 15 percent more energy. And, addressing recent Li-I woes, the company said these batteries incorporate "multiple and redundant safety measures."

Boston Power is working with many major PC manufacturers, including HP, which will announce its use of the new battery technology on Thursday.

A 25-year industry veteran and award-winning journalist, Lance Ulanoff is the former Editor in Chief of PCMag.com.
Lance Ulanoff has covered technology since PCs were the size of suitcases, ?on line? meant ?waiting? and CPU speeds were measured in single-digit megahertz. He?s traveled the globe to report on a vast array of consumer and business technology.
While a digital veteran, Lance spent his early years writing for newspapers and magazines. He?s been online since 1996 and ran Web sites for three national publications: HomePC, Windows Magazine...
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